Shoe bunion-protector.



c. N. COLE.

SHOE BUNION I-ROTEGTOB. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1909.

921 ,592. Patented May 11, 1909.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 6M6 vwwmmay m ATTORNEYS rul: nonms PEYEL'S En. wmmnc-rou, n. c.

UNITED STAES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. corn, or ILioN, NEW YORK, Assreuoaor ONE-HALF TO FRANK R. RIX, or

ILION, NEW YORK.

SHOE B UN ION -PROTE OTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

To alleuhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. COLE, of Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Bunion-Protectors and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others-skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The obj eot of my invention is to provide a bunion protector for shoes or a shoe, having means for protecting a bunion, which is simple, cheap and efiicient.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the toe portion of a boot or shoe provided with my improvements, the protector being shown in dotted lines therein. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the toe of a boot or shoe illustrating particularly my improvement. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the protector ployed.

Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particular description, indicates the bunion protector, the same consisting of a stiff spring metal device having the base portion 10 adapted to be built into and secured in the sole of the shoe, whereby a secure and firm hold is obtained therefor, and the upwardly, projecting, somewhat curved member or spring arm 10 adapted to conform to and follow the contour more or less closely of the upper of the shoe. The part or member 10 of the protector may be provided with a set of openings, as 10, to receive rivets or tacks by means of which .this member may be firmly secured to the underside of the insole 11 of the boot or shoe. The device may further'be provided with a V-shaped bend 10 adapted to receive the downwardly turned edge of the insole 11 and the one edge of the upper lining 18, and at the V-shape the device is preferably provided with openings, as shown, through which the stitches 14 may be passed in securing the upper 12 and the welt 15 to the edge of the insole, as well as assisting in securing the protector in position. The outer sole 16 in the form of construction shown is secured to the welt by stitches 17 in the usual manner, while there may be provided a cork filling 18 between the inner sole l1 and the outer sole 16. The arm 10 projects upwardly on the inner side of and follows the contour of the upper 12, and being relatively very rigid serves to hold the upper distended at the point where the protector spring is located.

The protector will be located on the side of the shoe, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in a position opposite or nearly opposite the ball of the foot, and serves to hold the upper distended and take the strainand tension of the upper from the foot and particularly from a bunion thereon. The spring arm is relatively narrow and does not .interfere with the natural flexibility of the sole of the shoe in walking or otherwise. These protectors may well beplaced in shoes at the time they are originally constructed, but may readily be placed in a shoe afterward by cutting the stitches 17 for some distance along the edge of the sole and turning the same aside to afford access to the seam or stitching securing the welt, upper and upper lining to the edge of the insole. These stitches may be severed for a short distance and the spring arm 1O thrust through the seam and oetween the upper and the upper lining, and the stitches restored by passing such as occur at the protector through the openings provided in the \!shaped portion 10 thereof. The inner end of the part 10 can be secured to the insole by tacks or rivets. After securing the protector in position on the insole, the outer sole may be returned and the stitches securing it to the welt restored. Substantially the same form of protector shown in Fig. 3, lessthe V- shaped bend 10 may be employed in a peg shoe, in which case the base member would be inserted between the inner sole and outer sole. The spring arm 10 is extended only to such a-height above the sole as will allow the upper end to relieve the foot from the tension of the upper.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a shoe of a sole, an insole an upper, and a protector consisting of a base part adapted to be secured to the insole, a V-shaped portion adapted to receive the edge of the insole, and an upwardly projecting spring arm arranged immediatel inside of the upper and adapted to hold the upper distended at the pointwhere the protector is located, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a shoe of an outer In Witness whereof, I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 10 26th day of December 1908.

CHARLES N. COLE.

sole, an insole, an upper sewed to the edge of the insole, a protector having a base p ortion adapted to be secured between the inner and outer soles, a V-shaped ortion to receive 5 the edge of the insole, an a spring arm projecting upwardly immediately inside of the Witnesses: upper and arranged to hold the upper dis- ANTHONY STEBU, tended, substantially as set forth. ORANGE B. RUDD. 

